Marines issue Glock 19M as M007 pistol to select personnel (VIDEO)

Piggybacking off the FBI’s contract, the Marines earlier this year issued the upgraded Glock to investigators and members of the helicopter squadron that transports the President.

Gunnery Sgt. Brian Nelson, Individual Weapons project officer for the M007 at Marine Corps Systems Command, explains in the above video that the guns were first fielded by the service in May. Among those issued the 9mm handgun to carry concealed are members of HMX-1– the famous “Marine One” unit responsible for the transportation of the President and other dignitaries– as well as military and civilian investigators of the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division.

“The M007 has a smaller frame and is easier to conceal, making it a natural selection to meet the Marine Corps’ conceal carry weapon requirement,” said Nelson.

Besides the units mentioned by Nelson, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade, the 2nd Marine Division gunner, told Marine Corps Times that about 50 Marines from that unit being rotated to Afghanistan will carry the Glock rather than the Beretta M9 (92F).

“I just went with the evidence,” Wade said. “The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that of the two, for the concealed carry handgun mission, the Glock is a better tool for that.”

“It’s kind of a passive Guardian Angel-esque measure,” Wade said. “Certain Marines will be armed at all times.

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